Quick connect device and assembly for use with a toilet fill valve

ABSTRACT

An assembly comprising a tubular inlet riser adapted to be mounted within a toilet tank where a main control valve assembly would be mounted on the upper end of the inlet riser, the tubular inlet riser having an inner riser bore so that fill water can pass through this bore when the tank empties in accordance with the main control valve assembly, the inlet riser having a bottom-most portion having an outer threaded portion and a bottom seat, the assembly further comprising a quick connect coupling.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures and to the component parts that are used in them, including fill valves, tubular inlet risers for fill valves and assemblies for flush systems used in gravity flush toilets. More specifically, it relates to an improved connection device of the type that is used to secure one end of an inlet water line to the tubular inlet riser of a toilet fill valve, the tubular inlet riser of the fill valve being typically anchored at the bottom of a toilet water tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional toilets typically employ a number of essential components. First, a porcelain water tank is mounted immediately above a porcelain bowl from which a quantity of water is rapidly drained in order to flush waste from the bowl into the sewer system. One very common design uses a flapper valve made of an elastomeric material that covers the drain outlet of the tank. When the flush handle on the outside of the tank is manually depressed the flapper valve is lifted via a chain or other connecting means and the head of water in the tank drains through the drain outlet, the outlet being normally covered by the flapper valve. The flapper valve is typically designed with an inverted air chamber so that it initially floats as it is lifted away from the drain outlet in the bottom of the tank. This allows sufficient flushing water to flow into the bowl even if the user immediately releases the flush handle. When the water level in the tank drops, the tank is automatically refilled through a fill valve that is connected to a high pressure water supply line.

The typical fill valve for the tank comprises a tubular inlet riser that extends through an opening in the bottom of the tank and is connected to the pressurized water line. Current connections that are available include female compression to female compression with braided stainless steel hose extending between them; female compression to female compression with woven synthetic polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) hose; copper, stainless steel or rigid PVC tubing with compression style female fittings, and Cross-linked polyethylene, commonly abbreviated PEX, piping with a threaded nut for attachment to the threaded tubular inlet riser.

When the tank drains, a float connected to the ballcock or pilot fill valve descends. This activates the ballcock or pilot fill valve and it begins to refill the tank with water via the inlet riser at a rate that is much slower than the rate at which water flows through the drain outlet. When the tank is nearly empty, the flapper valve closes. The tank continues to refill as the float connected to the ballcock or pilot fill valve rises. At the same time water from the ballcock or pilot fill valve enters an overflow tube and refills the bowl to the normal standing water level to provide a trap seal. Once the float reaches a predetermined height indicating that the tank is full, the ballcock or pilot fill valve completely turns off and the flow of water through the inlet riser stops.

The foregoing general conventional arrangement is still widely used today. In the experience of this inventor, however, there is a need to provide an improved water inflow quick connect device that would make it easier for home owners and plumbers to install the in-flow connection tubing to the tubular inlet riser of the fill valve at the point where the tubular inlet riser of the fill valve is anchored to the tank floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing, several constructs for making an improved in-flow connection to the tubular inlet riser of a fill valve have been devised by this inventor. In two constructs presented in this application, a male insert comprises a first end and a second end. The first end is configured in such a way that it can be captured at the bottom-most portion of the tubular inlet riser. A cone washer and a coupling nut are used to retain a peripheral flange of the male insert to that bottom-most portion of the inlet riser. The peripheral flange separates the first and second ends of the male insert. The bottommost end of the male insert, in turn, connects with one end of a conventional outer quick connect type hose, which pushes onto the fill valve outside of the male connector. The other end of the hose connects to the water outlet at the wall or floor to the rear of the toilet.

In another construct, a “half cartridge” insert is welded in place at the bottom-most portion of the tubular inlet riser of the fill valve. A separate conventional half cartridge assembly, comprised of a pair of O-rings, a retainer and a locking collar, is used in conjunction with the welded half cartridge insert to complete a similar assembly wherein an end of in-flow connection tubing is secured within the half cartridge insert and the half cartridge assembly.

The foregoing and other features of the quick connect device and assembly of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectioned side elevation view of the tubular inlet riser of a fill valve with which a first embodiment of the male insert of the present invention is to be used with an in-flow connection tubing end.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectioned side elevation view of the tubular inlet riser of a fill valve with which a second embodiment of the male insert of the present invention to be used with an in-flow connection tubing end.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectioned side elevation view of the tubular inlet riser of a fill valve with which a third embodiment of a quick connect device and assembly is used with an in-flow connection tubing end, the view showing the elements in an exploded or expanded view.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectioned view of the tubular inlet riser illustrated in FIG. 3 but showing the fill valve and quick connect device as assembled, but without showing the in-flow connection tubing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like-numbered elements refer to like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a quick connect assembly, generally identified 10, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The assembly 10 comprises a tubular inlet riser 1 of the type that would be mounted within a toilet tank (not shown). A main control valve assembly (also not shown) would typically be mounted on the upper end of the inlet riser 1. The inlet riser 1 comprises an inner riser bore 5. Fill water passes through the inner riser bore 5 when the tank empties in accordance with the main control valve assembly. The bottom-most portion 2 of the inlet riser 1 comprises an outer threaded portion 3. Though not shown, this threaded portion 3 of the inlet riser 1 is also used to secure the riser 1 to the floor of the toilet tank via a seal and a nut. Those elements are not illustrated, but mentioned for purposes of understanding why the threaded portion 3 extends as far up the bottom-most portion of a tubular inlet riser 1 as it does. Lastly, the inlet riser 1 comprises a bottom seat 4.

In the assembly 10, a standard coupling nut 12 is also provided, the coupling nut 12 comprising a side wall 14 and an end wall 15. Inside of the side wall 14, the coupling nut 12 comprises internal threads 13 that mesh with the threaded portion 3 of the inlet riser 1. The inside of the coupling nut 12 further comprises a flat inner surface 16 of the end wall 15. The end wall 15 further comprises a centrally-disposed circular aperture 17. This assembly 10 further includes a cone washer 6 which can be a pliable conforming rubber or TPE (Thermal Plastic Elastomer). The cone washer 6 comprises a centrally-disposed circular aperture 7 and a ramped shoulder 8 that extends downwardly from the aperture 7 to a vertical outer sidewall 9. The cone washer 6 further comprises a substantially flat bottom surface 11.

Lastly, the assembly 10 of this first preferred embodiment comprises a substantially tubular male insert 21 having an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 23, the lower portion 23 having an outer cylindrical surface 27. The insert 21 further comprises a substantially cylindrical inner bore 25. Disposed between the upper and lower portions 22, 23 of the male insert 21 is a flat peripheral flange 24, the flange 24 having a top surface 26 and a bottom surface 28, the top surface 26 having two radial rings which seal with the cone washer 6. In this assembly 10, the upper portion 22 of the male insert 21 is intended to be placed within the aperture 7 of the cone washer 12 and the lower portion 23 is intended to extend through the end wall aperture 17 of the coupling nut 12. The male insert 21 is connected with a conventional outer quick connect type hose (not shown). The other end of the hose connects to the water outlet (also not shown).

In application, the cone washer 6 is mounted onto the upper portion 22 of the male insert 21. The lower portion 23 is inserted into the end wall aperture 17 of the coupling nut 12. The coupling nut 12 is then introduced to the bottom-most threaded portion 3 of the inlet riser 1. As the coupling nut 12 is rotated, the cone washer shoulder 8 moves into contact with the bottom seat 4 of the inlet riser 1. Ultimately, the coupling nut 12 is rotated to the point where the cone washer 6 is captured between the bottom seat 4 of the inlet riser 1 and the top surface 26 of the flat peripheral flange 24 of the male insert 21, the surface 26 having two radial rings which seal with the cone washer 6. This also seals the male insert 21 to the bottom 2 of the fill valve riser 1. The male insert 21 is connected to a conventional outer quick connect type hose end (not shown) that is pushed onto the male insert 21, the conventional outer quick connect type hose end having barbs that engage and hold the male insert 21, and the other end of the hose connects to the water outlet. As previously alluded to, push connect fittings of this type are what are typically provided for such plumbing connections and are easier for the home owner user or plumber to install, but also provide a secure seal for the pressurized water supply that the assembly 10 is connected to. Further, it is desirable that the male insert 21 be made of a relatively rigid plastic material.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a quick connect assembly, generally identified 20, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. For all intents and purposes, the structural elements are virtually identical between the first preferred embodiment 10 and this second preferred embodiment 20, the major difference being the size of the male insert 21 a which, in the second preferred embodiment 20, comprises a reducing taper 23 a. This allows the first preferred embodiment 10 to be used with one end of a one-half inch diameter outer quick connect type hose and the second preferred embodiment 20 to be used with one end of a three-eighths inch diameter outer quick connect type hose.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a quick connect assembly, generally identified 30, that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. This assembly 30 likewise comprises a tubular inlet riser 1 of the type that would be mounted within a toilet tank where a main control valve assembly would be mounted on the upper end of the inlet riser 1. The inlet riser 1 comprises an inner riser bore 5 and fill water passes through this bore 5 when the tank empties in accordance with the main control valve assembly. The bottom-most portion 2 of the inlet riser 1 comprises an outer threaded portion 3 and a bottom seat 4. In this assembly 30, a half cartridge adapter structure 32 is hermetically bonded to the bottom seat 4 of the inlet riser 1 and extends upwardly into the bore 5 of the riser 1. The adapter structure 32 comprises a cylindrical upper tube stop cavity 33, a cylindrical medial O-ring cavity 34 and a cylindrical lower cartridge cavity 35.

Complementary to this adapter structure 32 is a conventional half cartridge subassembly, generally identified 40, for insertion into the O-ring and lower cartridge cavities 34, 35, respectively. The cartridge subassembly 40 comprises a pair of O-rings 41, 42, a retainer 43 and a locking collar 44. The retainer 43 further comprises a plurality of capturing shoulders 45 and the locking collar 44 comprises a complementary internal circumferential ridge 46. When the shoulders 45 are urged over the ridge 46, the retainer 43 is held firmly in place by the locking collar 46. Referring now to FIG. 4, it shows the half cartridge subassembly 40 fully inserted into the adapter structure 32.

In assembly, one end of a tube, hose or conduit (not shown) is inserted into the retainer 43. In the preferred embodiment, the tube, hose or conduit would comprise PEX (a form of polyethylene with cross-links) tubing. The pair of O-rings 41, 42 are inserted into the O-ring cavity 34 and the locking collar 44 is inserted into the lower cavity 35. The retainer 43, with the tube, hose or conduit attached, is inserted into the locking collar 44 sufficiently that the end of the tube, hose or conduit extends upwardly into the adapter structure 32 and the retainer 43 engages the locking collar 44, which exerts clamping pressure on the tube, hose or conduit to capture it and hold it in place. The O-rings 41, 42 complete the water-tight seal of the assembly 30. Again, see FIG. 4.

In accordance with the foregoing, it will be apparent that several constructs for making an improved in-flow connection to the tubular inlet riser of a fill valve have been devised—two of them utilizing a male insert assembly and one of them utilizing a half cartridge assembly. 

1. An assembly comprising a tubular inlet riser adapted to be mounted within a toilet tank where a main control valve assembly would be mounted on the upper end of the inlet riser, the tubular inlet riser comprising an inner riser bore so that fill water can pass through this bore when the tank empties in accordance with the main control valve assembly, the inlet riser having a bottom-most portion having an outer threaded portion and a bottom seat, the assembly further comprising a half cartridge adapter structure hermetically bonded to the bottom seat of the inlet riser and extending upwardly into the bore of the tubular inlet riser, the adapter structure comprising a cylindrical upper tube stop cavity, a cylindrical medial O-ring cavity and a cylindrical lower cartridge cavity.
 2. An assembly comprising a tubular inlet riser adapted to be mounted within a toilet tank where a main control valve assembly would be mounted on the upper end of the inlet riser, the tubular inlet riser having an inner riser bore so that fill water can pass through this bore when the tank empties in accordance with the main control valve assembly, the inlet riser having a bottom-most portion having an outer threaded portion and a bottom seat, the assembly further comprising a standard coupling nut, the coupling nut having a side wall and an end wall having a centrally-disposed circular aperture, inside of the side wall, the coupling nut has internal threads adapted to mesh with the threaded portion of the inlet riser, the inside of the coupling nut further comprising a flat inner surface of the end wall, and a cone washer having a centrally-disposed circular aperture, a ramped shoulder that extends downwardly from the aperture to a vertical outer sidewall, and a substantially flat bottom surface, the assembly further comprises a substantially tubular male insert having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an outer cylindrical surface, the insert having a substantially cylindrical inner bore, and disposed between the upper and lower portions of the male insert is a flat peripheral flange, the flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, the upper portion of the male insert being adapted to be placed within the aperture of the cone washer and the lower portion to extend through the end wall aperture of the coupling nut. 